Now! Then! Margaret Pinchbeck of Pickering tells the York coroner that she killed her husband with an axe, and that he deserved to die

29 October 1671: Margaret Pinchbeck of Pickering tells the York coroner that she killed her husband with an axe, and that he deserved to die

James Raine. 1861. Depositions from the Castle of York. London: Surtees Society. Get it:

Excerpt

Elizabeth Pinchbecke, daughter of John Pinchbecke, deceased, saith that about eight or nine o’clock in the evening on Friday last, this informate’s father and mother being fallen out before their going to bed, after some ill words there was some strokes betwixt them, and her father took the stick from her mother, and several strokes was given. But this informate being in bed is uncertain who gave the more strokes, but she perceived her mother to bring an axe from under the cupboard, where it usually lay, and carried it to the bedside, and went into bed to her father, and seemed to lie very quietly, until this informate thought they had been both asleep. But about three or four o’clock in the next morning, as she believes, she heard her mother rise out of bed and take the axe. This informate being amazed does not remember whether she had a candle or no, but this informate heard a great stroke given, which she believes was upon her father’s head by her mother with the axe. And, upon the first stroke, her father gave a great skrike [shriek], and after that this informate heard a stroke or two more, but her father cry no more, but her mother caused her to get up and put on her close. And this informant’s mother then took her father on her back with one of his arms above her shoulder, and the other of his arms under her other arm, and commanded this informant to carry his feet, which she did as well as she could, but she was scarce able to bear them, but was forced several times to let them fall. They carried him down the hill by John Smith’s door stead, and turned again on the right hand towards the mill, on along by the doors till they came at Morgan’s door, which is a deep part of the beck, and this informate is certain that they put him into the beck at Morgan’s door, where Alice Morgan died. And, after this informate and her mother came in, her mother charged her that she should never tell to anyone that she killed her father, for if she ever spoke of it to any one, she would kill her; and that her mother warmed water, and with it washed the bench by the bedside which was all bloody, and also washed several other bloody places within the house. Margaret, the testator’s wife, saith that she did take the axe, and knocked her husband’s harnes [brains] out, for he had done her a great injury and did deserve it. [The daughter was acquitted, the mother burnt alive.]

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To facilitate reading, the spelling and punctuation of elderly excerpts have generally been modernised, and distracting excision scars concealed. My selections, translations, and editions are copyright.

Abbreviations

Comment

Apart from his wife-beating, was John Pinchbeck responsible for the death of Alice Morgan?

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Original

Elizabeth Pinchbecke, daughter of John Pinchbecke, deceased, saith, that, about 8 or 9 o’clock in the evening on Friday last, this informate’s father and mother being fallen out before their going to bed, after some ill words there was some strokes betwixt them, and her father took the stick from her mother, and several strokes was given. But this informate being in bed is uncertain who gave the more strokes, but she perceived her mother to bring an axe from under the cupboard, where it usually lay, and carried it to the bedside, and went into bed to her father, and seamed to lie very quietly, until this informate thought they had been both asleep; but, about 3 or 4 o’clock in the next morning, as she believes, she heard her mother rise out of bed and take the axe. This informate being amazed does not remember whether she had a candle or no; but this informate heard a great stroke given, which she believes was upon her father’s head by her mother with the axe. And, upon the first stroke, her father gave a great skrike [shrill cry], and after that this informate heard a stroke or two more, but her father cry no more; but her mother caused her to get up and put on her close. And this informant’s mother then took her father on her back with one of his arms above her shoulder, and the other of his arms under her other arme, and commanded this informant to carry his feet, which she did as well as she could, but she was scarce able to bear them, but was forced several times to let them fall. They carried him down the hill by John Smith’s door stead, and turned again on the right hand towards the mill, on along by the doors till they came at Morgan’s door, which is a deep part of the beck, and this informate is certain that they put him into the beck at Morgan’s door, where Alice Morgan died; and, after this informate and her mother came in, her mother charged her that she should never tell to anyone that she killed her father, for, if she ever spoke of it to any one, she would kill her; and that her mother warmed water, and with it washed the bench by the bedside which was all bloody, and also washed several other bloody places within the house.
[Two other witnesses]
Margaret, the testator’s wife, saith that she did take the axe, and knocked her husband’s harnes [brains] out, for he had done her a great injury and did deserve it.

455 words.